Picture-displaying apparatus



Jan. 24, 1928.

E. DIDCOTE PICTURE DISPLAYING APPARATUS S Sheets-Sheet 1 nWE/V T Filed May 5, 1925 #TTWWY Jan. 24, 1928.

E. DlDCOTE PICTURE DISPLAYING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 5M piaecya 7 afzwv Filed May 5. 1925 m l i/vr LII l I I I I l Kl TTOIE/VE Y Jan. 24, 1928.

E. DIDCOTE PICTURE DISPLAYING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-$heet 3 Filed May 5, 1925 o o 0 o o o 0 o o o iiiiLl 7 WHH IHUHH IHL Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,347

E. DIDCOTE PICTURE DISPLAYING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 J4 I/fi x //VVE /v o t Jan. 24, 1928.

E.- DIDCOTE PI CTURE DI SPLAYING APPARATUS Fiied May 5, 1925 e Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 24, 1928.

E. DIDCOTE PICTURE DISPLAYING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST DIDCOTE, OF WOKING', ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T ADVERTISING MACHINES LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

PICTURE-DISPLAYING APPARATUS.

Application filed. May 5, 1925. Serial No, 28,076.

This invention relates to inmroveinents in picture display apparatus of the kind wherein groups of curtain rollers are mounted at opposite ends of a supporting frame, and a traveller, moving intermediate the groups, whithdraws and replaces individual rollers from the groups at the ends of its path, and unwinds their curtains to display them as it recedes from the groups.

In PflllZlCllltii',1l1lS invention is an im provement in oiymodiiication of the invention. set forth in my application for letters patent of the United States under Serial Number 757,599, filed Dec. 23, 192i, according to which the apparatus comprises curtain rollers mounted in annular grooves in stationary drums, removable sections in said drums, means operating intermittently serving to bring the rollers in succession into the removable drum sections and means for traversing said drum sections and the rollers therein back and forth across the apparatus.

The improvements according to the present invention consist primarily in modifying the construction and arrangement of certain parts of the apparatus so as to permit of the incorporation of a simplified drive for the moving parts, and the provision of means for positively unwinding and winding the curtains so as to eliminate the necessity of employing springs in the curtain rollers as heretofore. These improvements are devised with the main objects of simplifying the construction of the apparatus, and of rendering it more satisfactory and reliable to withstand operation for long and continuous periods.

Picture display apparatus embodying the present invention in the preferred form is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a front elevation partly broken away of the apparatus as a whole;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a detail taken from line of Figure 1;

Figure i is a side elevation of a detail of Figure 1; 1

Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 1:;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation on line 6-6 of Figure 1-;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section of Figure 1 taken on line 7-7;

ure 8 is a section on line S-8 of Fig are 'i 5 Figure 9 is a detail of the drum disc;

Figure 10 is a detail of the curtain roller skate;

Figures 11 and 12 are diagrammatic illustrations of an operation in connection with the traversing mechanism Figure 13 is a detail of the traversing mechanism Figure 1% is a plan View of Figure '13; and Figures 15, 16, 17 and 18 are details of the curtain winding mechanism. I 1

Referring to the drawings, the frame of the apparatus comprises two parts 1 and 2 secured together by cross bars 3 and distance pieces with straps or caps 5. Cross bars a serve to connect the legs of each part of the frame as shown.

So-called drums 7 and 8 are secured to the top members of the frame as by legs 9 and straps 10. Similar drums 11 and 12 are secured to the cross bars 6 at the lower partof the appantus. Channel members 13 and .14 are secured to the frame by suitable stays in the positions shown as guides for the traversing mechanism to be hereinafter described, and a bar or hack-bone 15 is secured by straps 16 to the-top and bottom of the frame for a similar purpose. Further channel guides 17 are secured by stays 18 at each side of the apparatus also for a purpose. hereinafter described.

The curtain rollers 19 are formed in two groups of six each, one above and one below, and are mounted so as to travel in annular grooves in the drums 7 and 8, 11 and 12 respectively. The method of mount ing the rollers in the drums is as follows: Referring to Figures 7, 8 and 10, the'drum 8 is provided with a flange 20 to form a housing for the bearing 21 in which a driving shaft 22 is journalled. The drum is also provided with annular flanges forming a groove or race 23. A disc 24: is keyed to shaft 22 adjacent the drum, and is slotted at 25 (see Figure 9), The spindle as of each curtain roller passes through one slot 25 into the groove or race 23, and is fitted with a shoe or skate 27 upon which are mounted two anti-friction rollers 28. The arrangement is such that, when the disc as is rotated, the curtain rollers are moved freely round the groove or race in the drum. The shaft 22 extends across the top of the apparatus and is keyed to a similar disc 2 lserving to move the curtain rollers in the ill] drum '7. The arrangement is similar in regard to the drums 11 and 12. The skates in drums 7 and 12 are keyed to the curtain roller spindles, but those in drums S and 11 are rotatably mounted on the spindles. In some cases the skates in the'drums 8 and 11 may be dispensed with and the annular grooves in those drums formed to accommodate either the bare spindles or small wheels rotatably mounted thereon.

To the projecting end of shaft 22 is keyed one element 2-9 of a Geneva movement. The lower shaft 22 for drums 11 and 12 similarly fitted, and the coacting elements 30 of each Geneva movement are freely mounted on stub shafts 31 journalled in bearings carried by the frame.

The drive for the moving parts is from a motor, indicatedat 353, coupled to a worm 33 in mesh with a worm wheel 3%. This worm wheel is mounted on ashalt 35, carried by the frame in suitable bearings, which shaft is fitted with a sprocket 36. The sprocket 36 transmits the drive from the motor by a chain 37 to a sprocket Eltlkeyed on the lower shaft 31. On the other end of shaft 31 is keyed a sprocket which is connected by a chain to a sprocket all on the upper shaft 31.

One end of each curtain -11 on the rollers 19 is secured to a rod or. lath (see Figure 3) detachahly secured in openings or keyhole slots 16 in the discs 24. hen, therefore, aroller is removed from the carrying; drums, and drawn up or down by the traversing mechanism hereinafter described, the curtain is exposed.

The traversing mechanism for drawing the curtain rollers up and down, and tor changing them, will now be described. On the right-hand side of the apparatus as seen in Figure 1, is a traveler 51 which is adapted to move up and down, and for this purpose carries rollers 53 running in the channel member 14. A slide member 54, formed with a vertical slot 57, and mounted in guides in the traveller,carries a further roller 56 running in the channel 14.

In order to move the traveller, the end of one arm 58 of abell crank lever (see Figures 1, 5 and 6) is keyed to the chain do as by pins 59, this lever being pivoted in ball bearings (it) in the traveller, and having a l; the. end of its other arm ()1 a, roller (52 engaging in the vertical slot 07. hen, the chain. in motion, it will be seen lhatso long as the pins are being carried on a vertical length of chain intermediate the sprockets 39 and 41, the traveller and slide 54: are carried up or down with it as. a rigid unit. hen, however, the pins commence to ride around one or other of the sprockets, the hell crank must likewise commence to turn on its axis. Such turning being impossible so long as the slide is held fixed by itsfroller 63 of the channel, and the traveller, being thereby prevented from moving vertically, remains stationary in its uppermost (or lowermost) position.

The half-turn oi the crank during the time the pins are on the sprocket, causes the slide to reciprocate horizontally and regain its initial position as the pins leave the sprocket. A similar cycle of operations occurs when the pins reach the other sprocket, the luu'izimlai branch there issuing in the opposite direction since the slide moves tothe other side. To prevent the rollers 53 carried by the traveller from entering into the branches wl'ieu they pass the junctions, idle rollers til: are mounted therein as shown. The traveller carries a block 65 whose uppe' and lower parts are shaped to lill segmental gaps (56 (see Figure 7) in the drums S and 11, and each of these parts is channeled to receive and accommodate a skate 27. These parts-of the block .55 may be regarded as removable sections of the drums 8 and 11.

hen the traveller has moved into its uppermost (or lowermost) position, the annulat-ion of the groove or race in the drum is completed, and, whilst temporarily at rest in this position as heicinhefore described, the shaft 22 and its slotted disc 2st are moved one step forward, so as to transfer the picture roller and skate from the block into the groove or race 2" and intriuluce a fresh one into the block. This movement of the shaft QQis ell'ccted by the en asement of a )in a.)

A- f" i with an element 07 ofthe (.lcneva movement, which rocks the latter together with the elcment 30 through an angle of 180 degrees as it rides round the sprocket all, and by means of the pin 68 whereby the element 29 is rorkwl through an angle of degrees. As will he understood, the operation is repealed at the lowermost position of the traveller, so that there are always two rollers carried in transit across the front of the apparaiu:-=, cart-pl during the periods of roller changing.

The curtain roller skates are positioned in the block (55 during transit by means o I a socalled H-piece or selector lock 70. mounted on the traveller by means of a rod 71 in a sleeve hearing so as to be capalile of relative vertical movement. Recesses T3 in the H- piece accommodate and position the spindles 26 of the rollers. The H-piece secured to a strip or lath 72 which serves the purpose of covering thegap liietween the two rollers in transit.

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liltl The longer arm 74 of a bell crank lever, pivoted at 75 on the traveller, engages by means of apin 7 6 and an extended slot 77 with the lath 72. The shorter arm78 car- 'ries a roller 79 running in the channel guide 17 which is deflected at the ends, as shown at 80, so that just before the traveller reaches its uppermost or lowermost position, the lever is rocked and the long arm is depressed or raised respectively. This movement causes relative vertical motion between the H-piece and traveller, so that the former as well as the lath '72 are arrested and kept clearoi' the drums during the changing of picture rollers.

Apertures 81 are provided in the lath 72, fitted with plain or coloured glass or other suitable material through which light from behind the pictures isprojected. These apertures may take the form of stencilled letters or designs.

A second traveller S9 is provided at the other side oi": the apparatus, which carries rollers 83' mounted in the channel guide 13. The travellers 82 and 51 are connected by cross-bars or tubes 84 which are secured at the middle to a carriage 85 by straps 86. This carriage is provided with rollers 87 hearing against the guide bar 15. The travellers and connecting structure are braced by ties 88 with tension adjustments 89.

Referring to Figures 13 and 14 of the drawings, the traveller is provided with circular openings in which are inserted bush inenibers 00, 91 secured in position by bolts 92 as shown. Within the bush members are housed elements with grooves for holding the curtain roller skates 27, and shafts 9i, keyed to these skate holders, extend to the rear of the traveller through ball bearings 07 The rear ends of the shafts 94 are clamped by nuts 06 to winding drums 97,

9S, C(Htl'iit-l-llll'GZKlGCl externally as shown at 09. In engagement with each threaded drum 0'? or 98 is a stud or projection 100, carr' d by a half-ring 101 which is slidably mounted on a rod 102 rigidly secured to the traveller. 'lecesses 103 are formed in the bush iii-embers 90, 91 to permit the curtain roller skates to be inserted and withdrawn.

A. cable 10 is wound around the drums 9T, 08 and passes over pulleys 105 at the top and bottom of the apparatus. A tension spring 106 is interposed in this cable to compensate for variations in the length of cable oil the drums.

The positions of parts shown in Figure 17 are those obtaining when the traveller 51 stationary at the topo't its path, and the groove of the skate holder 93is then in register with the recesses 103 in the basemenher which is itself in register with the annular race in the curtain drum 7. This registration is ensured by the projection abutting against the termination of the threaded portion of the drum 9'7. Adjustment for this purposeis readily e'flected by slackening the nut 95 and disposing the drum and skate holder into the required positions when the traveller 51 is an inch or so short of the top-position. That is to say, the drum 97 and the skate holder 93 will be locked against rotation just before the traveller reaches the top of its path.

Similarly, when the traveller S2 is just short of its lowermost position, the drum 98 will be locked against rotation with the groove of its skate holder in register with the lower recesses 103.

It will be seen that rotation of the drums 97, 98 iscaused by the winding cable 10st as the traveller 82 moves up and down. W hen the traveller is moving downwardly, the unrolling oi the top picture curtain and the, consequent rotation of the curtain roller spindle and its skate controls the rotation of the drum 97, the picture curtain being kept just taut, and the spring 106 in the cable 104; taking upany slack or permitting any slight extension which may occur due to the varying diameter of the curtain on the roller, lVhilst the top picture curtain is being unrolled, the bottom picture curtain is positively rolled up by the rotation of the lower drum 98 caused by the cable 104-. This curtain is also maintained to the proper degree of tautness since the diameter of the curtain on the roller is increasing, and the paying out of the winding cable from the drum 98 will accommodate itself to the varying speed of rotation of the drum. The spring in the winding cable also permits the sli htly premature locking of the respective winding drums, 'hereinbetore referred to, as the traveller nears the top or bottom of its path.- 5

In order to ensure that the travellers 51 and 82 keep the curtainrollers perfectly horizontal and that their respective skate holders simultaneously register with the races in the drums 7 and 8, the adjustments 89 are provided in the ties 88. By these means it is possible slightly to raise or lower one traveller with respect to theother. The traveller is provided, similarly to the traveller 51, with an t'l-piece or selector lock for positioning the curtain roller spindles in transit. Thisselector lock is similarly depressed at the top and bottom oi? the path of the traveller by means of a bell crank lever having a roller on its short arm in engagement with a channel guide 17.

In order to counterbalance the weight of the traversing mechanism, the latter is connected to a lead Weight 108 or weights by means of cables passing around pulleys 107 at the top of the apparatus and attached to or about the top of the carriage 85. i

It will be clear from the fmF-egom description that there are always two rollers lbs invention, it will readily be appreciated by ill those skilled in the art that many modificatlons may be made of the construction and arrangement of parts herembefore described.

1. Picture display apparatus comprising stationary drums having annular grooves therein, curtain rollers mounted in said annular grooves, a removable section in each drum, means operating intermittently to bring the rollers inv succession into the said reino *able sections of said drums, means reciprocating said drum sections and the rollers therein across the apparatus, and means positively rotating the travelling rollers in the same direction of rotation during transit of the rollers one way, and in the op posite direction of rotation during the return transit of the rollers.

2. Picture display apparatus comprising stationary drums, having annular grooves therein, curtain rollers mounted in said annular grooves, a removable section in each drum, means operating intermittently to bring the rollers into the said removable seetions of said drums, means reciprocating said drum sections and the rollers therein across the apparatus, including a carriage, and means for positivelyunwinding and winding the curtains of the rollers in transit comprising winding drums extending laterally from said carriage and a cable engaging said winding drums, whereby positive rotation of the said rollers is assured by the travel of the carriage, the directions of rotation of the rollers being the same in either direction of travel or the carriage, the direction of rotation of the'rollers being reversed with the reversal of direction of travel of the carriage. e

3; Picture display apparatus comprising a stationary druinhaving an annular groove therein, a removable section in said drum; a plurality o'l curtain rollers, spindlesteruiinating said rollers and skates fitted to said spindles, the said skates being mounted in said groove and adapted to travel therein. when the removable section ilrsaid drum; means operating intermittently adapted to bring the rollers in succession into the removable section of the drum, means for traversing saidremovable section and the roller therein into and out of the drum, and means t'or unwinding and winding the curtains of the said rollers in transit, said means comprising winding drums coupled to the spindles of the rollers, a cable Wound around said winding drums, and tension means for maintaining said cable taut.

a. In picturedisplay apparatus, in combination, a group of curtain rollers disposed in spaced relation and rotatable a bout a coat mon axis, means to retain said curtain rollers in spaced relation, and means to prevent accidental displacement of said curtain rollers from said retaining means; travers ing mecluinism adapted to successively withdraw curtain rollers from the group and to replace same therein, and winding means adapted positively to unwind and wind the curtains of the rollers, while witlulrawn, such winding means including a cable and a drum wound therewith adapted to engage successive curtain rollers during tl :ir periods of withdrawal.

5. An apparatus of the character described including groups ot curtain rollers disposed in spaced relation, the axes oi the rollers of each said group being parallel to and rotatable about a common axis, means to constrain said curtain rollers of each said group in spaced relation, stationary means independent o'l. the aforesaid means to maintain said curtain rollers of each said group in substantially parallel relation with respect to said common axis, means including means travel-sable intermediate said groups of curtain rollers to disengage said curtain rollers from said constraining means and advaiuze and return said curtain rollers of each said group of curtain rollers and re-engage the same with said curtain roller constraining means, and means for winding and unwinding the curtains of said rollers during the periods of their advance and return, said means comprising pulleys carried by the apparatus, drums coupled to said rollers and a cable, wound around said drums and pulleys. I a V 6.'A1'l apparatus of the character describml including groups of curtain rollers dis msed in spaced relation, the curtain rollers of each said group of curtain rollers being parallel with respect to and rotatable about a common axis, a spindle for each said curtain roller, rotatable means engaging said curtain roller spindles to constrain said curtain rollers inspacedrelation, means other than said means engaging said curtain roller spindles maintaining said curtain rollers subsiaiv tiully parallel with respect to said common axis to prevent disl' lacement thereof 'l'roul said constraining means aforesaid. means, including means traversable intermediate said groups of curtain rollers to disengage said curtain rollers from said constraining means and advance and return said curtain rollers of each said group and reengage the same with said curtain roller constraining means, and means for winding and unwinding the curtains of said rollers during the periods of their advance and return, said neans including winding drums coupled to the spindles ofthe rollers, a cable wound ill! lull

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around said drums and means for keeping said cable taut.

7. An apparatus of the character described and including pairs of stationary drums disposed in spaced relation, annular grooves in said stationary drums, rotatable curtain roller constraining means mounted intermediate the drums constituting the pairs of drums aforesaid, curtain rollers mounted on said constraining means and engaged in said annular grooves in said stationary drums, re

cesses in said stationary drums, a carriage reciprocable intermediate said pairs of stationary drums, drum sections carried thereby extendable into said recesses, groovesin said drum sections, means to reciprocate said carriage, means including means to actuate said curtain roller constraining means, to interchange curtain rollers, and means for Winding and unwinding the curtains of said. rollers during the period of their reciprocation, such means including Winding drums on said carriage and a cable Wound around said drums, and means for maintaining said cable under tension.

8. An apparatus of the character described including pairs of stationary drums disposed in spaced relation, annular grooves in said stationary drums, rotatable curtain roller constraining means mounted intermediate said drums constituting the pairs of drums aforesaid, curtain rollers carried by said constraining means engaged in saidannular grooves in said stationary drums, recesses in said stationary drums, a carriage reciprocable intermediate said pairs of stationary drums, drum sections carried thereby extendable into said recesses, means to intermittently rotate said curtain roller constraining means to bring said curtain rollers into the grooves in said drum sections, means to re ciprocate said carriage, and means to continuously rotate said curtain rollers While travelling on said carriage whereby the curtain to be displayed is unwound while the carriage moves in one direction and rewound While the carriage moves in the reverse direction.

ERNEST DIDCOTE. 

